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About the only thing everyone can agree on when it comes to education is that tax dollars alone won’t accomplish everything communities wish their schools could do.

That’s why so many districts have formed foundations, nonprofit groups that can raise and invest extra money to enhance a district’s programs. Congratulations to the Van Buren School District Education Foundation, which recently kicked off its new campaign with a fundraiser that brought in $42,000 from area businesses and teachers.

Now in its 12th year, the foundation has awarded $654,000 in classroom grants, according to a report in Friday’s edition. Twice a year, administrators surprise educators at school with awards.

Those attending the kickoff event learned that teachers with the Alternative Learning Environment/Career Center received a $600 grant for teaching art techniques. But the students involved, on their own initiative, enhanced the project to create memory books, following the process through production.

“Our grants always go further than the money because the kids benefit by it,” ALE teacher Laura Tucker said.

A representative from one of the foundation’s business partners said her granddaughter took part in a grant program that promoted running. It kindled a love for running, and her granddaughter now participates in cross country events and has several racing wins to her name.

Although the teachers design the programs and apply for the grants, it is the students who benefit.

Fort Smith Public Schools Foundation, which began in 1996, works differently from Van Buren’s but has the same basic goals, to enrich the educational experience of students through support for teachers and programs.

Whereas the Van Buren program turns money around quickly, the Fort Smith group began by establishing an endowment that has grown to more than $1 million. It is supported by donations from the public and by payroll deductions by teachers — up to $10,000 a year from educators, according to Zena Featherston Marshall, foundation secretary.

The foundation pays out about $35,000 to $40,000 a year in graduate study awards and classroom mini-grants. Marshall said educators pursuing administrative certification sometimes receive the awards, but the granting committee prefers to support teachers who will remain in the classroom. As for which projects get funded, the emphasis is on ideas that will impact the most students for the longest time.

Van Buren awards usually come from the Pointer Patrol in a flashy display modeled on the surprise visits of the Publisher’s Clearing House Prize Patrol. Fort Smith’s foundation more often operates under the radar.

“It’s a well-kept secret,” Marshall said.

Either way, these are excellent programs that demonstrate the depth of their communities’ commitment to local schools. If you have a chance to support either of these programs or similar ones at your school district, we hope you will.